Nothing feels as good as walking into a clean house, but between leftover holiday clutter and all the sludgy dirt we tend to track indoors this time of year, the idea of a thorough cleansing might seem beyond daunting. We’re guessing you don’t have a whole lot of time on your hands to scrub the tile grout or vacuum up all the cobwebs. So what’s the secret to a spotless house? Instead of trying to tackle it all at once, do a little bit of deep cleaning every day. Here’s our 4-day plan for spic-and-span success:
Before you start
Now’s the time to take a quick inventory of your cleaning arsenal. Is it loaded with chemical products adorned with a scary skull & crossbones warning? We recommend amassing a stockpile of non-toxic cleaning supplies, made with natural ingredients that can handle even the toughest dirt, grease and grime as well as any of those bad boys you find in the supermarket.
Day 1: From dawn–’til dust
- Dust wooden furniture, plus all those forgotten places in your home: light fixtures, ceiling fans, doorframes, lampshades, picture frames, windowsills, blinds
- Get rid of those hard-to-reach corner cobwebs
- Shake out rugs (including bathroom rugs, hallway rugs and throw rugs)
Recommended product: Seventh Generation Wood Cleaner in Lemon & Chamomile
Day 2: Scrub-a-dub
- Scrub bathtubs, shower walls, sinks, toilets and countertops
- Wipe down kitchen/bathroom cabinets and appliances, including microwave
- Clean oven, stove and range hood
Recommended product: Ecover Ecological Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Day 3: Clean & clear
- Wipe down mirrors (bathroom mirrors, closet mirrors, decorative mirrors)
- Clean any interior windows with visible smudges (including sliding glass doors)
- Wipe doorknobs
Recommended product: Vitacost The Clean Collection Glass Cleaner
Day 4: Totally floored
- Sweep/vacuum all floors (sprinkle carpets with deodorizing powder before vacuuming)
- Mop any tiled/wood surfaces
Recommended products: Citrus Magic Carpet and Room Odor Eliminator